The Queens Park Rangers official website has confirmed that Interim Head Coach Neil Warnock will miss tonight’s Championship match against Middlesbrough because of personal reasons.
Recently appointed Interim Assistant Head Coach to Warnock, Kevin Blackwell, will take over first-team duties for this evenings encounter.
56-year-old Blackwell is no stranger to managerial duties ever since retiring from playing in 2004. He has held a series of coaching roles, whilst also having the top jobs at Leeds United, Luton Town, Sheffield United and most recently Bury.
The pair have worked together on numerous occasions in the past with Crystal Palace, Plymouth Argyle, Huddersfield Town, Bury and Sheffield United.
When offering Blackwell a role at Loftus Road, Warnock said he chose his trusted number two because ‘I know how Kevin works’ and because he is ‘very good on the training ground’.
It remains unclear as to what the exact personal reasons are which are forcing the experienced Warnock to sit this game out. However everyone at The72 hopes it is nothing too serious and wishes Neil all the best.
Warnock oversaw his first game in charge of his second spell before the international break in a 0-0 home draw against Preston North End. A victory tonight would take QPR up to 11th in the league table for at least 24 hours, before the rest of the Championship get back into the swing of things tomorrow and Sunday.
